Finding the perfect capsule holiday wardrobe is the holy grail of travel. When we get it right, it makes the rest of our trip easier, giving us more space to think about what really matters – experiencing the destination.
As part of a new series, we’re celebrating the style essentials that go the extra mile. Each month, we’ll spotlight a sartorial staple that will make your holiday looks sing without ever dating. Next up is the swimsuit.
I have always been a swimsuit fan. My first memory of them takes me back to being eight-years-old when I favoured a fetching style in yellow and red tie-dye. I loved wearing that one-piece because it gave me greater scope to charge about which, as a girl with three younger brothers, was very important.
Every summer, my family and I would drive to France to stay with family. Our afternoons were spent at a lake – in which the pièce de résistance was a giant blue pontoon that my siblings and I would scramble up before jumping off into the water. A swimsuit allowed me to make that transition with greater speed and, crucially, as quickly as my brothers. A bikini always felt more flimsy – a less hardy alternative where the briefs might slip down at the wrong moment. While the circumstances in which I wear a one-piece have now changed, my reasons for gravitating towards them remains the same – to me, they have a practicality that makes enjoying myself on the beach easier. They tend to hold their shape well, and seem more resistant to – that least attractive of words – sagging.
I have nothing against bikinis – I own a few – but a swimsuit will always be my first choice. It’s not about hiding my body, but a swimsuit is more flattering on me. I like the sleek, streamlined shape free of hip and neck ties that need adjusting. Even if you opt for a style in a wild print, there is something restrained about a one-piece that makes me feel more confident. It used to be that swimsuits were the dowdier beach option – an old-fashioned, big sister to the youthful, fresh bikini but, for as long as I’ve been working in fashion (now edging towards 15 years), they have been an essential part of any modern holiday wardrobe.
Inedit one-piece, £525, Eres
Waliea one-piece, £148, Reformation swim
Different silhouettes have come and gone – we all remember the cut-out styles made popular by Love Islanders and the Baywatch hot-red numbers first made famous by Pamela Anderson. Those that have endured tend to fall on the more understated end of the spectrum, whether that’s sporty and athletic or vintage-inspired and figure-enhancing like the iconic white plunging design worn by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1959 film Suddenly Last Summer. The style itself is low-key, but it’s Taylor herself who takes it into the bombshell space.
Taylor aside, my swimsuit style icon is Jean Seberg in Bonjour Tristesse – the simple red silhouette worn with an oversized blue shirt and the classic black shape that she wears a towel over. Both have a low-key, sporty elegance. A pair of shorts and shades later and you have yourself a pleasing beach lunch outfit too. Or swap the shorts for a pair of wide-leg, breathable trousers. I know ‘beach-to-bar’ swimwear is a much bandied about phrase, but I am yet to see anyone under the age of 35 wear a swimsuit as eveningwear. Surely all of us would rather change out of the salty, sun-cream-covered swimsuit we’ve just spend the sticky day in?
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If you’re looking for a new style, strapless designs are having a moment, as are crochet pieces which are great as a sunbathing-only option. There’s also plenty of inspiration in The White Lotus season three – the monochrome look worn by Michelle Monaghan proves that minimalism doesn’t have to be boring. Eres is still a go-to destination for elevated, well-made swimsuits (and bikinis) that truly last, with its signature loop detail becoming a pillar of many a fashion editor’s holiday wardrobe. Hunza G’s simple, one-size-fits-all designs are great for minimalists, and I can personally attest to their quality.
OG Australian swim brand Seafolly offers a good mix of mood-boosting prints and also sleeker, understated options. If elegant sporty styles are the goal, then take a look at Wallien, a sustainable label made by surfer and swimmer Madeleine Wallien. Reformation launched its first swimwear collection last year and its 2025 offering is just as strong. For more budget-friendly solutions, M&S has a really good selection of one-pieces too; I like its super flattering, timeless scoop neck design which comes in five different colours.
Yemaya Full Coverage Swimsuit, £129, Wallien
Pamela contrast style, £175, Hunza G
Finding the right one-piece isn’t easy, but once you have, it’ll last you for holidays to come. All you have to do now is enjoy the water, grab a cold drink and whatever summer read you’ve packed.
Lead image courtesy of Wallien.
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